Scholarly project

All Master of Science students are required to engage in an independent scholarly inquiry activity resulting in a final scholarly project.

Scholarly projects have five important attributes:

Demonstration of scholarship, including mastery of a focused area of knowledge.

Completion of required research course(s). All Master’s students are required to complete NMETH 520 or an equivalent course as specified for the degree program or track. In addition, all CIPCT students must complete NMETH 530.

Completion of a minimum of 6 or 9 credits of scholarly inquiry coursework. For thesis students, this coursework will be a minimum of 9 credits of NMETH 700. For scholarly project students, this coursework will be a minimum of 6 credits and may involve only NMETH 598 (Special Projects) or include both NMETH 598 and other relevant courses.

Guidance by a supervisory committee who must approve a written plan. For thesis students, the plan is the thesis proposal. For scholarly project students the plan is the Master of Nursing Scholarly Project Plan and Final Product Report form.

Completion of at least six (6) credits of course work that supports the student’s primary focus of scholarly inquiry. The plan for these 6 credits must be approved by the supervisory committee BEFORE course work is begun. ALL students choosing the scholarly project option must take a minimum of 1 credit of NMETH 598: Special Projects.

Projects may be completed with 6 credits of NMETH 598: Special Projects. Study in NMETH 598 should reflect integration of knowledge gained from prior course work and demonstrate an extension of knowledge within the student’s focus of scholarly inquiry. Study in NMETH 598 may involve:

research dissemination;

research utilization;

exploration of issues in quality assurance;

a research practicum, including participation in a study team and/or work with an individual researcher or research facilitator;

clinical problem analysis;

a demonstration project;

the development of a scholarly paper, evaluation tool, film or proposal for submission to an external funding agency; and/or

participation in a public policy process.

Steps in the development of a scholarly project

Select a topic of interest. Read about your topic and prepare to discuss it in NMETH520.

Select a project adviser/supervisory committee chair. The project adviser is the graduate faculty member with whom the student works most closely to develop and present the scholarly project, and should have expertise in the topic of interest. Students initiate the selection of their supervisory committee chair. Set an appointment with the faculty member to discuss the topic, form an acquaintance, and explore a possible advisee/adviser agreement.

With your project adviser, identify the primary focus of the scholarly inquiry and how the project will develop your mastery of a focused area of knowledge.

Determine when to share a draft of the plan with other member(s) of the committee. Committee members do not expect to get materials from the student unless the chair agrees that this should occur. Notify committee members (other than the Chair) that they are to expect something from you about two weeks prior to its arrival, so that they can plan for it in their workload. Expect a one week turn-around time. Committee members send their responses directly to your chair, who will arrange for an appointment with you to go over the comments. In the event of disagreement by committee members, the members themselves work this out and the chair has binding decision power.

When the project plan is approved, it is signed on the form by all committee members. A signed copy is placed in the School of Nursing file in Student and Academic Services (SAS).

Complete planned course work and activities. Work primarily with your supervisory committee chair, and with the entire committee if appropriate.

Complete final quarter requirements, including applying for your degree. An application for degree (warrant) is required for your final examination.

Take the Final Examination.The Final Examination is the presentation of the project. Arrange your final examination with your committee during the quarter in which you expect to complete your project. The final examination must be written and oral. The student must pass the final examination. All members of the Supervisory Committee participate. Those in attendance will question the student, and the examination will last approximately one hour. When the final examination has been concluded, all members of the supervisory committee sign: